12 COLIN ARCHER. [noew. pol. bxp. 



partners of respectively W'"" (51 cm.), SS'-^ (56 cm.) and 18"^ (46 cm.) for 

 the fore- main- and mizzenmast, the latter being stepped in a beam of extra 

 size over the engines. The mainmast has a housing topmast on which the 

 „cro\vs nest" is fixed, 100 feet (31 m.) above the sea level. The fore- and mizzen 

 masts are on the contrary pole masts, the upper part above the peak halyards 

 being scarphed on to the lower mast, and secured with iron rings. 



The .sail plan (Pi. Ill) shows the arrangement of the sails. Their total 

 area is about 720 square yards (602 m.^). All the standing rigging is steel wire, and 

 the running rigging fine spun hemp rope. The three boom-sail sheets were 

 fitted witli sheet buffers, the blocks were all specially made, and the more 

 important ones fitted with patent bushes. The bridge for the commanding 

 officer is built across the ship round the mizzen mast^ 6 ft 6™ above the 

 poop deck. There are no chain plates visible outside the vessel to break the 

 smoothness of the side. The lower deadeyes are held by eyebolts passing 

 through the waterways and fastened to the frames inboard. There is, upon 

 the whole, but little of interest to note with regard to the rig, into which no 

 novelties of consequence were introduced. The object aimed at throughout 

 was to make it simple, strong, and easy to work. 



The Fram was furnished with 8 boats. Two of them were of a con- 

 siderable size, measuring 28 ft X 9 ^t X ^ ff- They were carvel built of 

 oak, strong but comparatively light, and were provided with a deck, mast and 

 sails. Each of them is large enough to carry the whole ship's crew with 

 provisions for several months. They were intended as a refuge from wind 

 and cold, and to carry the explorers home in case the ship was lost or had 

 to be abandoned. Their services were never required. There were besides 

 4 sealing boats of the ordinary type 20 ft X 6 ft, lightly built of American 

 elm; an oil launch 20 ft X 5 ft also built of elm, and a small Norwegian 

 „pram". With the exception of the launch which was purposely broken up 

 during the voyage, and the pram which had sustained some damage, all the 

 boats were brought home in the best condition. The large boats were carried 

 on a pair of gallows over the main hatch, the sealing boats and launch in 

 davits, and the pram on deck. 



Having now given a brief description of the Fram, her design and her 

 construction, and pointed out some of the details in which she differs from 

 the general run of ships, it will be of interest to inquire in how far she can 



